When we refer to Spiritual Formation it is in regards to Christian formation and Soul Care. Christian formation deals with how believers are redeemed, conformed and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. This transformation takes place by practicing and experiencing God’s manifest presence.
There are many ancient Christian disciplines that help us know God on a heart or deeper level. These may include: Silence and Solitude (experiencing God’s presence), Centering Prayer (a prayer of intention and consent), Intimacy Prayer/Journal (how to run or move into God space when in pain), Imaginative Contemplation (experiencing the Bible as if you were there), and Lectio Divina (a Holy Spirit-led reading, prayer, meditation and contemplation of the Scriptures). They all allow God to be the agent of change and renewal). These disciplines are all dependent on a Christian’s ability to hear God’s voice.
Soul Care refers to how we take care of, honor and love our own souls—mind, heart and will, body and spirit. It emphasizes receiving God’s love and loving oneself so that we can love others and fulfill the call to become God’s image-bearers.
Christian formation is a growth process moving us from faith to faith and glory to glory. It is the foundation moving us out of the flesh (old man) and into the spirit (new man). It is solely dependent on an intimate relationship with the Holy Trinity—Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit as the catalyst or agent of change, growth, and transformation.
It is based on the New Covenant reality that Christians have everything they need for life and godliness and is rooted in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ, through the cross (forgiveness of sins) and the resurrection (abundant and eternal life).
Leave a Reply